I'm actually using a hair dryer that I'm running off of a 12v battery from a drill I haven't been using. The airflow is nice, but I feel I can get much more out of it if I pick up a 24v battery to replace the one I'm using. As it is I can get the stock to a nice bright orange, which is ideally what I was aiming for, but to have the option of greater heat if I needed it would always be nice. I'm going to be using bar stock the next time I hit the hardware store, but I've only been able to give this thing a test run on some rebar (which SUCKS by the way), since the forge was only a very recent accomplishment. A proud one, don't get me wrong, but I'm a newbie.
When I was first planning to build it I was originally going to use an old barbecue basin to line with clay as well, but after having looked at some of the concrete propane forges it only just then dawned on me that a coal forge shouldn't have any problem being constructed out of concrete either, and cost me a lot less in the long run. I had almost zero in terms of finances, so being cheap was a necessity. Now that I have some cash in my pocket I want to go nuts with this. I'd like to make a short video to demonstrate it running too, so I'll have to remember to bring the camera next time, heheh.
And just for the record, I still have my old spud gun. So many good times. So much trouble.
@ Black_Eagle: Will do. The power to see in the blackness will be mine. I also recall seeing a how-to on making a home made pair out of the essential electrical components, but it's been years since I've read it and would like to find it again... I'll post it back here if I manage to get my hands on it again, as I'd also like to give building a pair a shot as well. I'm not too shabby with the old soldering iron.
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